Consultation on Proposed Extensions to Existing Seabird Colony Special Protection Areas (SPAs)

Background to the Consultation

The Birds and Habitats Directives in Scotland

Within Scotland, the UK and the European Union (EU) there are a number of areas that have been classified (designated) as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) under the EU Wild Birds Directive for their internationally important populations of birds. SPAs, together with areas designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) under the EU Habitats Directive, for certain plants, animals and habitats, form a network of sites throughout the European Union known as Natura 2000.

In Scotland, Scottish Ministers have the power to classify as Special Protection Areas those areas which meet the requirements of the Birds Directive. This responsibility extends into the marine environment out to 12 nautical miles.

Within Scotland at 27 June 2008, there are 144 classified SPAs and 238 SACs. Some of these SPAs and SACs overlap, completely or in part. Further information regarding SPAs and SACs can be found using SNH’s Sitelink facility (http://www.snh.org.uk/) and from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee website (http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-4).

Extension to breeding seabird SPAs in Scotland

There are 49 existing terrestrial SPAs in Scotland whose qualifying interests include at least one species of seabird. These Scottish seabird colonies are world-renowned and amongst the largest in Europe. At present, these SPAs only include the land and cliffs on which the birds breed. In order to better recognise the ecological requirements of the seabirds, and based on research undertaken by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and endorsed by Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Ministers are proposing to extend a number of these sites into the marine environment. Of the 49 SPAs whose qualifying interests include at least one species of seabird, 31 have been identified as holding species for which a seaward extension of the site, on current knowledge, would be appropriate. The list of sites can be viewed below and a map showing the location of each site available here.

The sea in front of the breeding cliffs is essential to the birds for a variety of purposes such as feeding, loafing, preening and display, and huge aggregations of birds may be seen on the water at certain times of year.

The extent of the sea near to these sites used by birds is dependent upon their ecology. For auks (the family name for razorbill , guillemot and puffin ) the bulk of this takes place within 1km of the breeding cliffs, while for gannet and fulmar , this area of major activity extends to 2 km. Therefore where these species are found there is a proposal to extend the existing SPAs by 1 or 2km. For sites holding manx shearwater , JNCC recommends that a boundary of at least 4km is required to cover the key areas used by the birds. In Scotland this affects only two sites, St Kilda and Rum.

List of Proposed Marine SPA Extensions

Name of Site	Approximate Proposed Increase	Species for which extension proposed
		Guillemot	Manx shearwater	Razorbill	Puffin	Gannet	Fulmar
Canna & Sanday	1km	*			*
Marwick Head	1km	*
North Colonsay & Western Cliffs	1km	*
Rum	4km	*	*
St Abbs to Fast Castle	1km	*		*
Ailsa Craig	2km	*				*
Buchan Ness to Collieston Coast	2km	*					*
Calf of Eday	2km	*					*
Cape Wrath	2km	*		*	*		*
Copinsay	2km	*					*
East Caithness Cliffs	2km	*		*	*		*
Fair Isle	2km	*		*	*	*	*
Fetlar	2km						*
Forth Islands	2km	*		*	*	*	*
Flannan Isles	2km	*		*	*		*
Foula	2km	*		*	*		*
Fowlsheugh	2km	*		*			*
Handa	2km	*		*			*
Hermaness, Saxa Vord & Valla Field	2km	*			*	*	*
Hoy	2km	*			*		*
Mingulay & Berneray	2km	*		*	*		*
North Caithness Cliffs	2km	*		*	*		*
North Rona & Sula Sgeir	2km	*		*	*	*	*
Noss	2km	*			*	*	*
Rousay	2km	*					*
Shiant Isles	2km	*		*	*		*
St Kilda	4km	*	*	*	*	*	*
Sule Skerry & Sule Stack	2km	*			*	*
Sumburgh Head	2km	*					*
Troup, Pennan and Lion's Head	2km	*		*			*
West Westray	2km	*		*			*

razerbills

Razorbills (Alca torda) and Guillemots (Uria aalge) resting on a clifftop on the Isle of may NNR. Forth and Borders Area._©Lorne Gill/SNH_For information on reproduction rights contact the Scottish Natural Heritage Image Library on Tel. 01738 444177 or www.snh.org.uk.

Fulmar

Fulmar_©Lorne Gill/SNH_For information on reproduction rights contact the Scottish Natural Heritage Image Library on tel. 01738 444177 or www.snh.org.uk

Puffin

Guillemots

Guillemots and their young chicks on a seacliff at the Fowlsheugh RSPB reserve near Stonehaven. Grampian Area._©Lorne Gill_For information on reproduction rights contact the Scottish Natural Heritage Image Library on Tel. 01738 444177 or www.snh.org.uk.

Gannets

Manx Shearwaters

Manx Shearwaters (Puffinus puffinus) flock feeding on the sea around the Isle of Rum NNR._©Laurie Campbell/SNH_For information on reproduction rights contact the Scottish Natural Heritage Image Library on tel. 01738 444177 or www.snh.org.uk.